Wales's disabled children 'denied' school support

DISABLED children in Wales have been refused additional support in Welsh schools due to claims their needs can be met through so-called universal provision, a committee heard.

- CHRIS HAINES

Senedd members considered a 1,454-name petition calling for a ban on the term “universal provision” - which refers to the support available to all pupils.

Parents warned councils are using the term to deny disabled children the person-centred, additional support they need in school to reach their full potential.

As part of a “transformation programme”, the Senedd passed a law in 2018 to bring in an additional learning needs (ALN) system to replace special educational needs (SEN) support.

The number of disabled children receiving support has fallen by nearly half since 2020/21 when roll-out began - with 40,000 fewer pupils receiving ALN or SEN support in 2023/24.

In 2017, then-minister Alun Davies assured the Senedd’s education committee that the cohort of pupils within the scope of the new system would be “broadly similar”.